Apparatus, system and method of communicating a single-user (su) multiple-input-multiple-output (mimo) transmission

ABSTRACT

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of communicating a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission. For example, a first wireless communication station may be configured to transmit a Request to Send (RTS) to a second wireless communication station via a plurality of SU MIMO Transmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, the RTS to establish a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, a control trailer of the RTS including an indication of an intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station; and to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, upon receipt of a Clear to Send (CTS) from the second wireless communication station indicating that the second wireless communication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/464,672 entitled “APPARATUS,SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATING A SU-MIMO TRANSMISSION”, filed Feb.28, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to communicating aSingle-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission.

BACKGROUND

A wireless communication network in a millimeter-wave band may providehigh-speed data access for users of wireless communication devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an Enhanced DirectionalMulti-Gigabit (EDMG) Physical Layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) format,which may be implemented in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 3A is a schematic illustration of communicating a Single User (SU)Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission between first andsecond stations, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3B is a schematic illustration of communicating SU MIMOtransmission between first and second stations, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of communicating SU MIMO transmissionbetween first and second stations, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method oftransmitting a SU MIMO transmission, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of receiving aSU-MIMO transmission, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a product of manufacture, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “demonstrativeembodiment”, “various embodiments” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s)so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object,merely indicate that different instances of like objects are beingreferred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so describedmust be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking,or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Device (MD), awireless station (STA), a Personal Computer (PC), a desktop computer, amobile computer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, a handheld device, awearable device, a sensor device, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, aPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA) device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a vehiculardevice, a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a consumerdevice, a non-mobile or non-portable device, a wireless communicationstation, a wireless communication device, a wireless Access Point (AP),a wired or wireless router, a wired or wireless modem, a video device,an audio device, an audio-video (ANV) device, a wired or wirelessnetwork, a wireless area network, a Wireless Video Area Network (WVAN),a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless LAN (WLAN), a Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), a Wireless PAN (WPAN), and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 standards (includingIEEE 802.11-2016 (IEEE 802.11-2016, IEEE Standard for Informationtechnology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systemsLocal and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements Part 11:Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications, Dec. 7, 2016); and/or IEEE 802.11ay (P802.11ay Standardfor Information Technology—Telecommunications and Information ExchangeBetween Systems Local and Metropolitan Area Networks—SpecificRequirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) andPhysical Layer (PHY) Specifications—Amendment: Enhanced Throughput forOperation in License-Exempt Bands Above 45 GHz)) and/or future versionsand/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating inaccordance with existing WiFi Alliance (WFA) Peer-to-Peer (P2P)specifications (including WiFi P2P technical specification, version 1.5,Aug. 4, 2015) and/or future versions and/or derivatives thereof, devicesand/or networks operating in accordance with existingWireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA) specifications (including WirelessGigabit Alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHY Specification Version 1.1, April2011, Final specification) and/or future versions and/or derivativesthereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordance with existingcellular specifications and/or protocols, e.g., 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or futureversions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices which are partof the above networks, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one way and/or two-wayradio communication systems, cellular radio-telephone communicationsystems, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a wireless telephone, aPersonal Communication Systems (PCS) device, a PDA device whichincorporates a wireless communication device, a mobile or portableGlobal Positioning System (GPS) device, a device which incorporates aGPS receiver or transceiver or chip, a device which incorporates an RFIDelement or chip, a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver ordevice, a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, aMultiple Input Single Output (MISO) transceiver or device, a devicehaving one or more internal antennas and/or external antennas, DigitalVideo Broadcast (DVB) devices or systems, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, a wired or wireless handheld device, e.g., a Smartphone, aWireless Application Protocol (WAP) device, or the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Infra Red (IR), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM),Orthogonal FDM (OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access(OFDMA), FDM Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division MultipleAccess (TDMA), Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), Spatial Division MultipleAccess (SDMA), Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service(GPRS), extended GPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), WidebandCDMA (WCDMA), CDMA 2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA,Multi-Carrier Modulation (MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth®,Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband(UWB), Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), 2G, 2.5G, 3G, 3.5G,4G, Fifth Generation (5G), or Sixth Generation (6G) mobile networks,3GPP, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, Enhanced Data rates forGSM Evolution (EDGE), or the like. Other embodiments may be used invarious other devices, systems and/or networks.

The term “wireless device”, as used herein, includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

The term “communicating” as used herein with respect to a communicationsignal includes transmitting the communication signal and/or receivingthe communication signal. For example, a communication unit, which iscapable of communicating a communication signal, may include atransmitter to transmit the communication signal to at least one othercommunication unit, and/or a communication receiver to receive thecommunication signal from at least one other communication unit. Theverb communicating may be used to refer to the action of transmitting orthe action of receiving. In one example, the phrase “communicating asignal” may refer to the action of transmitting the signal by a firstdevice, and may not necessarily include the action of receiving thesignal by a second device. In another example, the phrase “communicatinga signal” may refer to the action of receiving the signal by a firstdevice, and may not necessarily include the action of transmitting thesignal by a second device. The communication signal may be transmittedand/or received, for example, in the form of Radio Frequency (RF)communication signals, and/or any other type of signal.

As used herein, the term “circuitry” may refer to, be part of, orinclude, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), anintegrated circuit, an electronic circuit, a processor (shared,dedicated, or group), and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), thatexecute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logiccircuit, and/or other suitable hardware components that provide thedescribed functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may beimplemented in, or functions associated with the circuitry may beimplemented by, one or more software or firmware modules. In someembodiments, circuitry may include logic, at least partially operable inhardware.

The term “logic” may refer, for example, to computing logic embedded incircuitry of a computing apparatus and/or computing logic stored in amemory of a computing apparatus. For example, the logic may beaccessible by a processor of the computing apparatus to execute thecomputing logic to perform computing functions and/or operations. In oneexample, logic may be embedded in various types of memory and/orfirmware, e.g., silicon blocks of various chips and/or processors. Logicmay be included in, and/or implemented as part of, various circuitry,e.g. radio circuitry, receiver circuitry, control circuitry, transmittercircuitry, transceiver circuitry, processor circuitry, and/or the like.In one example, logic may be embedded in volatile memory and/ornon-volatile memory, including random access memory, read only memory,programmable memory, magnetic memory, flash memory, persistent memory,and the like. Logic may be executed by one or more processors usingmemory, e.g., registers, stuck, buffers, and/or the like, coupled to theone or more processors, e.g., as necessary to execute the logic.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN,e.g., a WiFi network. Other embodiments may be used in conjunction withany other suitable wireless communication network, for example, awireless area network, a “piconet”, a WPAN, a WVAN and the like.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with awireless communication network communicating over a frequency band above45 Gigahertz (GHz), e.g., 60 GHz. However, other embodiments may beimplemented utilizing any other suitable wireless communicationfrequency bands, for example, an Extremely High Frequency (EHF) band(the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band), e.g., a frequency bandwithin the frequency band of between 20 Ghz and 300 GHz, a frequencyband above 45 GHz, a frequency band below 20 GHz, e.g., a Sub 1 GHz(SIG) band, a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHz band, a WLAN frequency band, a WPANfrequency band, a frequency band according to the WGA specification, andthe like.

The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In someembodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. Insome embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna,a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or thelike.

The phrases “directional multi-gigabit (DMG)” and “directional band”(DBand), as used herein, may relate to a frequency band wherein theChannel starting frequency is above 45 GHz. In one example, DMGcommunications may involve one or more directional links to communicateat a rate of multiple gigabits per second, for example, at least 1Gigabit per second, e.g., at least 7 Gigabit per second, at least 30Gigabit per second, or any other rate.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented by a DMG STA (alsoreferred to as a “mmWave STA (mSTA)”), which may include for example, aSTA having a radio transmitter, which is capable of operating on achannel that is within the DMG band. The DMG STA may perform otheradditional or alternative functionality. Other embodiments may beimplemented by any other apparatus, device and/or station.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a system100, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 mayinclude one or more wireless communication devices. For example, system100 may include a wireless communication device 102, a wirelesscommunication device 140, and/or one more other devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may include amobile device or a non-mobile, e.g., a static, device.

For example, devices 102 and/or 140 may include, for example, a UE, anMD, a STA, an AP, a PC, a desktop computer, a mobile computer, a laptopcomputer, an Ultrabook™ computer, a notebook computer, a tabletcomputer, a server computer, a handheld computer, an Internet of Things(IoT) device, a sensor device, a handheld device, a wearable device, aPDA device, a handheld PDA device, an on-board device, an off-boarddevice, a hybrid device (e.g., combining cellular phone functionalitieswith PDA device functionalities), a consumer device, a vehicular device,a non-vehicular device, a mobile or portable device, a non-mobile ornon-portable device, a mobile phone, a cellular telephone, a PCS device,a PDA device which incorporates a wireless communication device, amobile or portable GPS device, a DVB device, a relatively smallcomputing device, a non-desktop computer, a “Carry Small Live Large”(CSLL) device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD), an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC),a Mobile Internet Device (MID), an “Origami” device or computing device,a device that supports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), acontext-aware device, a video device, an audio device, an A/V device, aSet-Top-Box (STB), a Blu-ray disc (BD) player, a BD recorder, a DigitalVideo Disc (DVD) player, a High Definition (HD) DVD player, a DVDrecorder, a HD DVD recorder, a Personal Video Recorder (PVR), abroadcast HD receiver, a video source, an audio source, a video sink, anaudio sink, a stereo tuner, a broadcast radio receiver, a flat paneldisplay, a Personal Media Player (PMP), a digital video camera (DVC), adigital audio player, a speaker, an audio receiver, an audio amplifier,a gaming device, a data source, a data sink, a Digital Still camera(DSC), a media player, a Smartphone, a television, a music player, orthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include, for example,one or more of a processor 191, an input unit 192, an output unit 193, amemory unit 194, and/or a storage unit 195; and/or device 140 mayinclude, for example, one or more of a processor 181, an input unit 182,an output unit 183, a memory unit 184, and/or a storage unit 185.Devices 102 and/or 140 may optionally include other suitable hardwarecomponents and/or software components. In some demonstrativeembodiments, some or all of the components of one or more of devices 102and/or 140 may be enclosed in a common housing or packaging, and may beinterconnected or operably associated using one or more wired orwireless links. In other embodiments, components of one or more ofdevices 102 and/or 140 may be distributed among multiple or separatedevices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, processor 191 and/or processor 181may include, for example, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a DigitalSignal Processor (DSP), one or more processor cores, a single-coreprocessor, a dual-core processor, a multiple-core processor, amicroprocessor, a host processor, a controller, a plurality ofprocessors or controllers, a chip, a microchip, one or more circuits,circuitry, a logic unit, an Integrated Circuit (IC), anApplication-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitable multi-purpose orspecific processor or controller. Processor 191 may executeinstructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) of device 102and/or of one or more suitable applications. Processor 181 may executeinstructions, for example, of an Operating System (OS) of device 140and/or of one or more suitable applications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, input unit 192 and/or input unit 182may include, for example, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch-screen,a touch-pad, a track-ball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitablepointing device or input device. Output unit 193 and/or output unit 183may include, for example, a monitor, a screen, a touch-screen, a flatpanel display, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) display unit, a LiquidCrystal Display (LCD) display unit, a plasma display unit, one or moreaudio speakers or earphones, or other suitable output devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, memory unit 194 and/or memory unit184 includes, for example, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read OnlyMemory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM (DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), a flashmemory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, abuffer, a short term memory unit, a long term memory unit, or othersuitable memory units. Storage unit 195 and/or storage unit 185 mayinclude, for example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive, a CompactDisk (CD) drive, a CD-ROM drive, a DVD drive, or other suitableremovable or non-removable storage units. Memory unit 194 and/or storageunit 195, for example, may store data processed by device 102. Memoryunit 184 and/or storage unit 185, for example, may store data processedby device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may be capable of communicating content, data, informationand/or signals via a wireless medium (WM) 103. In some demonstrativeembodiments, wireless medium 103 may include, for example, a radiochannel, a cellular channel, an RF channel, a WiFi channel, an IRchannel, a Bluetooth (BT) channel, a Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS) Channel, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM 103 may include one or moredirectional bands and/or channels. For example, WM 103 may include oneor more millimeter-wave (mmWave) wireless communication bands and/orchannels.

In some demonstrative embodiments, WM 103 may include one or more DMGchannels. In other embodiments WM 103 may include any other directionalchannels.

In other embodiments, WM 103 may include any other type of channel overany other frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 mayinclude one or more radios including circuitry and/or logic to performwireless communication between devices 102, 140 and/or one or more otherwireless communication devices. For example, device 102 may include atleast one radio 114, and/or device 140 may include at least one radio144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144 mayinclude one or more wireless receivers (Rx) including circuitry and/orlogic to receive wireless communication signals, RF signals, frames,blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items, and/ordata. For example, radio 114 may include at least one receiver 116,and/or radio 144 may include at least one receiver 146.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144 mayinclude one or more wireless transmitters (Tx) including circuitryand/or logic to transmit wireless communication signals, RF signals,frames, blocks, transmission streams, packets, messages, data items,and/or data. For example, radio 114 may include at least one transmitter118, and/or radio 144 may include at least one transmitter 148.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radio 114 and/or radio 144,transmitters 118 and/or 148, and/or receivers 116 and/or 146 may includecircuitry; logic; Radio Frequency (RF) elements, circuitry and/or logic;baseband elements, circuitry and/or logic; modulation elements,circuitry and/or logic; demodulation elements, circuitry and/or logic;amplifiers; analog to digital and/or digital to analog converters;filters; and/or the like. For example, radio 114 and/or radio 144 mayinclude or may be implemented as part of a wireless Network InterfaceCard (NIC), and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may beconfigured to communicate over a directional band, for example, anmmWave band, and/or any other band, for example, a 2.4 GHz band, a 5 GHzband, a S1G band, and/or any other band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, radios 114 and/or 144 may include, ormay be associated with one or more, e.g., a plurality of, directionalantennas.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include one or more,e.g., a plurality of, directional antennas 107, and/or device 140 mayinclude on or more, e.g., a plurality of, directional antennas 147.

Antennas 107 and/or 147 may include any type of antennas suitable fortransmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks,frames, transmission streams, packets, messages and/or data. Forexample, antennas 107 and/or 147 may include any suitable configuration,structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements,components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas 107 and/or 147 mayinclude, for example, antennas suitable for directional communication,e.g., using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas 107 and/or 147may include a phased array antenna, a multiple element antenna, a set ofswitched beam antennas, and/or the like. In some embodiments, antennas107 and/or 147 may implement transmit and receive functionalities usingseparate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments,antennas 107 and/or 147 may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may includedirectional antennas, which may be steered to one or more beamdirections. For example, antennas 107 may be steered to one or more beamdirections 135, and/or antennas 147 may be steered to one or more beamdirections 145.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may includeand/or may be implemented as part of a single Phased Antenna Array(PAA).

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or 147 may beimplemented as part of a plurality of PAAs, for example, as a pluralityof physically independent PAAs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a PAA may include, for example, arectangular geometry, e.g., including an integer number, denoted M, ofrows, and an integer number, denoted N, of columns. In otherembodiments, any other types of antennas and/or antenna arrays may beused.

In some demonstrative embodiments, antennas 107 and/or antennas 147 maybe connected to, and/or associated with, one or more Radio Frequency(RF) chains.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include a controller124, and/or device 140 may include a controller 154. Controller 124 maybe configured to perform and/or to trigger, cause, instruct and/orcontrol device 102 to perform, one or more communications, to generateand/or communicate one or more messages and/or transmissions, and/or toperform one or more functionalities, operations and/or proceduresbetween devices 102, 140 and/or one or more other devices; and/orcontroller 154 may be configured to perform, and/or to trigger, cause,instruct and/or control device 140 to perform, one or morecommunications, to generate and/or communicate one or more messagesand/or transmissions, and/or to perform one or more functionalities,operations and/or procedures between devices 102, 140 and/or one or moreother devices, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controllers 124 and/or 154 mayinclude, or may be implemented, partially or entirely, by circuitryand/or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and/orlogic, memory circuitry and/or logic, Media-Access Control (MAC)circuitry and/or logic, Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry and/or logic,baseband (BB) circuitry and/or logic, a BB processor, a BB memory,Application Processor (AP) circuitry and/or logic, an AP processor, anAP memory, and/or any other circuitry and/or logic, configured toperform the functionality of controllers 124 and/or 154, respectively.Additionally or alternatively, one or more functionalities ofcontrollers 124 and/or 154 may be implemented by logic, which may beexecuted by a machine and/or one or more processors, e.g., as describedbelow.

In one example, controller 124 may include circuitry and/or logic, forexample, one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, tocause, trigger and/or control a wireless device, e.g., device 102,and/or a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device102, to perform one or more operations, communications and/orfunctionalities, e.g., as described herein.

In one example, controller 154 may include circuitry and/or logic, forexample, one or more processors including circuitry and/or logic, tocause, trigger and/or control a wireless device, e.g., device 140,and/or a wireless station, e.g., a wireless STA implemented by device140, to perform one or more operations, communications and/orfunctionalities, e.g., as described herein.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may include a messageprocessor 128 configured to generate, process and/or access one ormessages communicated by device 102.

In one example, message processor 128 may be configured to generate oneor more messages to be transmitted by device 102, and/or messageprocessor 128 may be configured to access and/or to process one or moremessages received by device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may include a messageprocessor 158 configured to generate, process and/or access one ormessages communicated by device 140.

In one example, message processor 158 may be configured to generate oneor more messages to be transmitted by device 140, and/or messageprocessor 158 may be configured to access and/or to process one or moremessages received by device 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, message processors 128 and/or 158 mayinclude, or may be implemented, partially or entirely, by circuitryand/or logic, e.g., one or more processors including circuitry and/orlogic, memory circuitry and/or logic, Media-Access Control (MAC)circuitry and/or logic, Physical Layer (PHY) circuitry and/or logic, BBcircuitry and/or logic, a BB processor, a BB memory, AP circuitry and/orlogic, an AP processor, an AP memory, and/or any other circuitry and/orlogic, configured to perform the functionality of message processors 128and/or 158, respectively. Additionally or alternatively, one or morefunctionalities of message processors 128 and/or 158 may be implementedby logic, which may be executed by a machine and/or one or moreprocessors, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality ofmessage processor 128 may be implemented as part of radio 114, and/or atleast part of the functionality of message processor 158 may beimplemented as part of radio 144.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality ofmessage processor 128 may be implemented as part of controller 124,and/or at least part of the functionality of message processor 158 maybe implemented as part of controller 154.

In other embodiments, the functionality of message processor 128 may beimplemented as part of any other element of device 102, and/or thefunctionality of message processor 158 may be implemented as part of anyother element of device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality ofcontroller 124 and/or message processor 128 may be implemented by anintegrated circuit, for example, a chip, e.g., a System on Chip (SoC).In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or morefunctionalities of radio 114. For example, the chip or SoC may includeone or more elements of controller 124, one or more elements of messageprocessor 128, and/or one or more elements of radio 114. In one example,controller 124, message processor 128, and radio 114 may be implementedas part of the chip or SoC.

In other embodiments, controller 124, message processor 128 and/or radio114 may be implemented by one or more additional or alternative elementsof device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at least part of the functionality ofcontroller 154 and/or message processor 158 may be implemented by anintegrated circuit, for example, a chip, e.g., a System on Chip (SoC).In one example, the chip or SoC may be configured to perform one or morefunctionalities of radio 144. For example, the chip or SoC may includeone or more elements of controller 154, one or more elements of messageprocessor 158, and/or one or more elements of radio 144. In one example,controller 154, message processor 158, and radio 144 may be implementedas part of the chip or SoC.

In other embodiments, controller 154, message processor 158 and/or radio144 may be implemented by one or more additional or alternative elementsof device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 mayinclude, operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, one or more STAs. For example, device 102 mayinclude at least one STA, and/or device 140 may include at least oneSTA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 mayinclude, operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, one or more DMG STAs. For example, device 102 mayinclude, operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, at least one DMG STA, and/or device 140 may include,operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, at least one DMG STA.

In other embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may include, operate as,perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functionalities of, anyother wireless device and/or station, e.g., a WLAN STA, a WiFi STA, andthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may beconfigured operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, an access point (AP), e.g., a DMG AP, and/or apersonal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP), e.g., a DMG PCP,for example, an AP/PCP STA, e.g., a DMG AP/PCP STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may beconfigured to operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one ormore functionalities of, a non-AP STA, e.g., a DMG non-AP STA, and/or anon-PCP STA, e.g., a DMG non-PCP STA, for example, a non-AP/PCP STA,e.g., a DMG non-AP/PCP STA.

In other embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may operate as,perform the role of, and/or perform one or more functionalities of, anyother additional or alternative device and/or station.

In one example, a station (STA) may include a logical entity that is asingly addressable instance of a medium access control (MAC) andphysical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium (WM). The STA mayperform any other additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, an AP may include an entity that contains a station(STA), e.g., one STA, and provides access to distribution services, viathe wireless medium (WM) for associated STAs. The AP may perform anyother additional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a personal basic service set (PBSS) control point (PCP)may include an entity that contains a STA, e.g., one station (STA), andcoordinates access to the wireless medium (WM) by STAs that are membersof a PBSS. The PCP may perform any other additional or alternativefunctionality.

In one example, a PBSS may include a directional multi-gigabit (DMG)basic service set (BSS) that includes, for example, one PBSS controlpoint (PCP). For example, access to a distribution system (DS) may notbe present, but, for example, an intra-PBSS forwarding service mayoptionally be present.

In one example, a PCP/AP STA may include a station (STA) that is atleast one of a PCP or an AP. The PCP/AP STA may perform any otheradditional or alternative functionality.

In one example, a non-AP STA may include a STA that is not containedwithin an AP. The non-AP STA may perform any other additional oralternative functionality.

In one example, a non-PCP STA may include a STA that is not a PCP. Thenon-PCP STA may perform any other additional or alternativefunctionality.

In one example, a non PCP/AP STA may include a STA that is not a PCP andthat is not an AP. The non-PCP/AP STA may perform any other additionalor alternative functionality.

In some demonstrative embodiments devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to communicate over a Next Generation 60 GHz (NG60) network,an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) network, and/or any other network. For example,devices 102 and/or 140 may perform Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO)communication, for example, for communicating over the NG60 and/or EDMGnetworks, e.g., over an NG60 or an EDMG frequency band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to operate in accordance with one or more Specifications, forexample, including one or more IEEE 802.11 Specifications, e.g., an IEEE802.11-2016 Specification, an IEEE 802.11ay Specification, and/or anyother specification and/or protocol.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented, for example, as partof a new standard in an mmWave band, e.g., a 60 GHz frequency band orany other directional band, for example, as an evolution of an IEEE802.11-2016 Specification and/or an IEEE 802.11ad Specification.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured according to one or more standards, for example, inaccordance with an IEEE 802.11ay Standard, which may be, for example,configured to enhance the efficiency and/or performance of an IEEE802.1ad Specification, which may be configured to provide Wi-Ficonnectivity in a 60 GHz band.

Some demonstrative embodiments may enable, for example, to significantlyincrease the data transmission rates defined in the IEEE 802.11adSpecification, for example, from 7 Gigabit per second (Gbps), e.g., upto 30 Gbps, or to any other data rate, which may, for example, satisfygrowing demand in network capacity for new coming applications.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be implemented, for example, to allowincreasing a transmission data rate, for example, by applying MIMOand/or channel bonding techniques.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to communicate MIMO communications over the mmWave wirelesscommunication band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may beconfigured to support one or more mechanisms and/or features, forexample, channel bonding, Single User (SU) MIMO, and/or Multi-User (MU)MIMO, for example, in accordance with an IEEE 802.11ay Standard and/orany other standard and/or protocol.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 mayinclude, operate as, perform a role of, and/or perform the functionalityof, one or more EDMG STAs. For example, device 102 may include, operateas, perform a role of, and/or perform the functionality of, at least oneEDMG STA, and/or device 140 may include, operate as, perform a role of,and/or perform the functionality of, at least one EDMG STA.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may implementa communication scheme, which may include Physical layer (PHY) and/orMedia Access Control (MAC) layer schemes, for example, to support one ormore applications, and/or increased transmission data rates, e.g., datarates of up to 30 Gbps, or any other data rate.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the PHY and/or MAC layer schemes maybe configured to support frequency channel bonding over a mmWave band,e.g., over a 60 GHz band, SU MIMO techniques, and/or MU MIMO techniques.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more mechanisms, which may be configuredto enable SU and/or MU communication of Downlink (DL) and/or Uplinkframes (UL) using a MIMO scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more MU communication mechanisms. Forexample, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implement one ormore MU mechanisms, which may be configured to enable MU communicationof DL frames using a MIMO scheme, for example, between a device, e.g.,device 102, and a plurality of devices, e.g., including device 140and/or one or more other devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to communicate over an NG60 network, an EDMG network, and/orany other network and/or any other frequency band. For example, devices102 and/or 140 may be configured to communicate DL MIMO transmissionsand/or UL MIMO transmissions, for example, for communicating over theNG60 and/or EDMG networks.

Some wireless communication Specifications, for example, the IEEE802.11ad-2012 Specification, may be configured to support a SU system,in which a STA may transmit frames to a single STA at a time. SuchSpecifications may not be able, for example, to support a STAtransmitting to multiple STAs simultaneously, for example, using aMU-MIMO scheme, e.g., a DL MU-MIMO, or any other MU scheme.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to communicate over a channel bandwidth, e.g., of at least2.16 GHz, in a frequency band above 45 GHz.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more mechanisms, which may, for example,enable to extend a single-channel BW scheme, e.g., a scheme inaccordance with the IEEE 802.11ad Specification or any other scheme, forhigher data rates and/or increased capabilities, e.g., as describedbelow.

In one example, the single-channel BW scheme may include communicationover a 2.16 GHz channel (also referred to as a “single-channel” or a“DMG channel”).

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, whichmay, for example, support communication over a channel BW (also referredto as a “wide channel”, an “EDMG channel”, or a “bonded channel”)including two or more channels, e.g., two or more 2.16 GHz channels,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the channel bonding mechanisms mayinclude, for example, a mechanism and/or an operation whereby two ormore channels, e.g., 2.16 GHz channels, can be combined, e.g., for ahigher bandwidth of packet transmission, for example, to enableachieving higher data rates, e.g., when compared to transmissions over asingle channel. Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein withrespect to communication over a channel BW including two or more 2.16GHz channels, however other embodiments may be implemented with respectto communications over a channel bandwidth, e.g., a “wide” channel,including or formed by any other number of two or more channels, forexample, an aggregated channel including an aggregation of two or morechannels.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 and/or device 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more channel bonding mechanisms, whichmay, for example, support an increased channel bandwidth, for example, achannel BW of 4.32 GHz, a channel BW of 6.48 GHz, a channel BW of 8.64GHz, and/or any other additional or alternative channel BW, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form, or may communicate as part of, a wireless localarea network (WLAN).

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form, or may communicate as part of, a WiFi network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may form, or may communicate as part of, an EDMG network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, wireless communication devices 102and/or 140 may include an EDMG STA.

In other embodiments, wireless communication devices 102 and/or 140 mayform, and/or communicate as part of, any other additional or alternativenetwork.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to generate, process, transmit and/or receive a PhysicalLayer Convergence Protocol (PLCP) Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) having aPPDU format (also referred to as “EDMG PPDU format”), which may beconfigured, for example, for communication between EDMG stations, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a PPDU, e.g., an EMDG PPDU, mayinclude at least one non-EDMG field, e.g., a legacy field, which may beidentified, decodable, and/or processed by one or more devices(“non-EDMG devices”, or “legacy devices”), which may not support one ormore features and/or mechanisms (“non-legacy” mechanisms or “EDMGmechanisms”). For example, the legacy devices may include non-EDMGstations, which may be, for example, configured according to an IEEE802.11-2016 Standard, and the like. For example, a non-EDMG station mayinclude a DMG station, which is not an EDMG station.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the EDMG PPDU may be configured toinclude a Control Trailer (CT), e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to generate, transmit, receive, and/or process one or morePPDUs, for example, control mode PPDUs, including a control trailer,which may be configured, for example, to provide control signalingand/or any other control information, e.g., as described below.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates an EDMGPPDU format 200, which may be implemented in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. In one example, devices 102 (FIG. 1) and/or140 (FIG. 1) may be configured to generate, transmit, receive and/orprocess one or more EDMG PPDUs having the structure and/or format ofEDMG PPDU 200.

In one example, devices 102 (FIG. 1) and/or 140 (FIG. 1) may communicatePPDU 200, for example, as part of a transmission over a channel, e.g.,an EDMG channel, having a channel bandwidth including one or more 2.16GHz channels, for example, including a channel BW of 2.16 GHz, a channelBW of 4.32 GHz, a channel BW of 6.478 GHz, a channel BW of 8.64 GHz,and/or any other channel BW, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, EDMG PPDU 200 mayinclude a non-EDMG portion 210 (“legacy portion”), e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, non-EDMG portion210 may include a non-EDMG (legacy) Short Training Field (STF) (L-STF)202, a non-EDMG (Legacy) Channel Estimation Field (CEF) (L-CEF) 204,and/or a non-EDMG header (L-header) 206.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, EDMG PPDU 200,may include an EDMG portion 220, for example, following non-EDMG portion210, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, EDMG portion 220may include a first EDMG header, e.g., an EDMG-Header-A 208, an EDMG-STF212, an EDMG-CEF 214, a second EDMG header, e.g., an EDMG-Header-B 216,a Data field 218, and/or one or more beamforming training fields, e.g.,a TRN field 224.

In some demonstrative embodiments, EDMG portion 220 may include, forexample a control trailer 219, e.g., following data field 218. In oneexample, control trailer 219 may be included instead of TRN field 224.In another example, control trailer 219 may be included before TRN field224.

In some demonstrative embodiments, control trailer 219 may be includedin one or more types of DMG or non-EDMG PPDUs, for example, a grantframe, a grant ACK frame, an RTS, a CTS, a DTS, or the like, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, EDMG portion 220 may include some orall of the fields shown in FIG. 2 and/or one or more other additional oralternative fields.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102and/or 140 may be configured to support SU-MIMO communications, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform one or more operations of a SU-MIMO communicationflow. For example, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to performone or more setup operations, channel access operations, one or moreoperations of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) establishment, one or moreoperations of a data transaction, and/or one or more additionaloperations and/or procedures, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to support one or more MIMO channel access rules, including,for example, how to perform physical carrier sensing, virtual carriersensing, and/or a backoff procedure, which may be configured to support,for example, a flow, e.g., a partial or complete flow, for SU-MIMO,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform a downlink communication, for example, in adownlink direction from a TXOP owner to a TXOP responder, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform an uplink communication, for example, in an uplinkdirection (also referred to as a “reverse direction”) form the TXOPresponder to the TXOP owner, e.g., a described below.

In one example, a first station, e.g., a station implemented by device102, may operate as, perform the role of, and/or perform one or morefunctionalities of, a TXOP owner; and/or a second station, e.g., astation implemented by device 140, may operate as, perform the role of,and/or perform one or more functionalities of, the TXOP responder. Inother embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may operate as, perform therole of, and/or perform one or more functionalities of, any additionalor alternative station and/or device.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may performone or more operations and/or communications, for example, to enableSU-MIMO communication between devices 102 and 140, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to generate, transmit, receive, process and/or use a Grantmessage with a control trailer, and/or grant acknowledgement (GrantACK)with a control trailer, e.g., according to the EDMG PPDU format of FIG.2 and/or any other PPDU format, for example, to set up a MIMO channelaccess time, for example, as well as a Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO)or SU-MIMO transmission, for example, on one or more directions ofcommunication, for example, each direction of the uplink direction andthe downlink direction, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to generate, transmit, receive, process and/or use one ormore PPDUs, e.g., EDMG PPDUs and/or non-EDMG PPDUs, e.g., as describedabove with respect to FIG. 2, for example, to set and/or cancel aNetwork Allocation Vector (NAV), and/or to signal a MIMO configurationand/or status between devices 102 and 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to generate, transmit, receive, process and/or use a Requestto Send (RTS) with a control trailer, a DMG (or non-EDMG) Clear to Send(CTS) with a control trailer, a DMG (or non-EDMG) Denial to Send (DTS)with a control trailer, and/or a Contention Free (CF) end (CF-END), forexample, to set and/or cancel a NAV, and/or to signal a MIMOconfiguration and/or status between devices 102 and 140, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform one or more, e.g., some or all, of the operationsdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform one or more additional or alternative operations,e.g., to perform a SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to follow one or more rules, for example, when communicatingone or more of the RTS, the CTS, the DTS, and/or the CF-END, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, when a SU-MIMO mode isto be used in a downlink direction, an RTS with a control trailer may betransmitted, e.g., should be transmitted, using all MIMO TX sectors ofthe TXOP owner, for example, to protect all the TX directions at theTXOP owner, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, when a SISO mode is tobe used in an uplink direction, a DMG CTS with a control trailer may betransmitted, e.g., should be transmitted, using SISO, and an Acknowledge(ACK) or block acknowledge (BACK) and Reverse Direction (RD) DATA may betransmitted, e.g., should be transmitted, using SISO, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, when SU-MIMO mode isused in the uplink direction, a DMG CTS with a control trailer may betransmitted, e.g., should be transmitted, for example, using all MIMO TXsectors of the TXOP owner, and/or an ACK/BACK and/or RD DATA may betransmitted using SU-MIMO, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, there may be at least two options,which may be implemented, for example, to guarantee that a TXOP owner isready for SU-MIMO reception from a Tx responder, for example, if theTXOP responder wants to use SU-MIMO for uplink transmission to the TXOPowner, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more rules and/or proceduresto support initiating, performing, and/or communicating an SU-MIMOtransmission may be based, for example, on one or more assumption, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a MIMO-capable EDMG STA, e.g.,devices 102 and/or 140, may not always have all the necessary antennas“on” and/or may not be ready for a MIMO communication. For example, aMIMO-capable EDMG STA may be configured to turn on one or more antennas,e.g., extra or additional antennas, for MIMO communication, for example,when the EDMG STA decides to be an MIMO initiator, or when the EDMG STAis notified to be a MIMO responder. In one example, it may take sometime to turn an antenna from an off state to an on state, and/or toconfigure the antenna.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a TXOP owner may decide to transmitto a TXOP responder using a SU-MIMO scheme, and/or the TXOP respondermay decide to transmit to the TXOP owner using a SU-MIMO scheme or aSISO scheme. For example, the downlink communication may include aSU-MIMO communication, while the uplink communication may be performedas a SISO or SU-MIMO communication, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to communicate according to a MIMO channel access rule. Inone example, the MIMO channel access rule may require that aMIMO-capable EDMG STA shall keep a physical Carrier Sense (CS), avirtual CS, and/or a backoff procedure for SISO, for example, in orderto perform a SISO transmission and/or reception, for example, during aMIMO TXOP establishment.

For example, at least a Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) of energydetection shall be maintained, such that, for example, at least all thedirections of MIMO TX sectors may be observed. In one example, MIMOchannel access may be allowed, for example, only when a TXOP isobtained, for example, based on physical CS, virtual CS, and/or backoffprocedure, that may enable a SISO transaction, and/or CCA that cover atleast all the MIMO TX sectors may be clear, for example, for a pointcoordination function (PCF) InterFrame space (PIFS) time that endsimmediately, e.g., before the start of the transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may utilizeone or more, e.g., some or all, of the rules describe above, and/or oneor more additional or alternative rules, for example, when initiating,performing, and/or communicating a SU-MIMO transmission.

In some embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to performsome or all of the operations for MIMO channel access and/or maycommunicate according to any other additional or alternative MIMOchannel access rule, and/or criteria.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a SU-MIMO Beamforming (BF) protocolmay be configured, for example, to train SU-MIMO beams for both downlinkand uplink directions.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, only one set of SU-MIMOsectors may be trained and/or maintained for each direction between apair of STAs. Therefore, according to these embodiments, indicating“using SU-MIMO” for either downlink or uplink may implicitly indicateSU-MIMO configurations for both Transmit (TX) and Receive (RX).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a MIMO-capable EDMG STA may usedifferent DMG antennas to perform SU-MIMO TX and SU-MIMO RX to the samedestination STA. For example, when a MIMO-capable EDMG STA activates itsDMG antennas to transmit to another STA using SU-MIMO, it may not beready to receive from the same STA using SU-MIMO.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to perform one or more operations of a SU-MIMO flow toperform a SU-MIMO communication, e.g., as described below. In somedemonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured toperform some or all of the operations of the SU-MIMO flow and/or toperform one or more additional or alternative operations and/orcommunications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a TXOP owner, e.g., a stationimplemented by device 102, may initiate an SU-MIMO transmission to aTXOP responder, e.g., a station implemented by device 140, for example,based on an RTS/CTS exchange, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may transmit an RTS todevice 140, and/or device 140 may transmit a CTS to device 102, e.g., inresponse to the RTS, for example, before transmission of the SU-MIMOtransmission, for example, to establish a TXOP to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 totransmit an RTS to device 140 via a plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors ofdevice 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the RTS may include a DMG RTS frameor a non-EDMG RTS frame, e.g., an RTS decodable by DMG STAs. Forexample, the DMG RTS frame may include one or more fields of non-EDMGportion 210 (FIG. 2), and one or more fields of EDMG portion 220 (FIG.2), e.g., at least control trailer 219 (FIG. 2). In other embodiments,the RTS may include any other frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the RTS may be configured toestablish a TXOP to transmit a SU-MIMO transmission to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a control trailer of the RTS, e.g.,control trailer 219 (FIG. 2), may include an indication of an intent totransmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive the RTS fromdevice 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 146 to receivefrom device 102 the RTS, including the control trailer including theindication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device140, e.g., from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit a CTS to device 102, for example, when device 140 is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission, e.g., from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the CTS may include a DMG CTS frameor a non-EDMG CTS frame, e.g., a CTS decodable by DMG STAs. For example,the DMG CTS frame may include one or more fields of non-EDMG portion 210(FIG. 2), and one or more fields of EDMG portion 220 (FIG. 2), e.g., atleast control trailer 219 (FIG. 2). In other embodiments, the CTS mayinclude any other frame.

In one example, device 140 and/or transmitter 148 may transmit the CTS,e.g., in response to the RTS from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a control trailer of the CTS, e.g.,control trailer 219 (FIG. 2), may include a mode indication to indicatewhether device 140 is to use a SISO mode or a SU-MIMO mode, for example,to transmit a reverse direction transmission, e.g., an uplinktransmission, to device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of device 140,for example, when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTSis to indicate the SU-MIMO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the CTS as a SISO transmission, for example, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate the SISOmode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may receive the CTS fromdevice 140, for example, in response to the RTS from device 102, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivefrom device 140 the CTS indicating that device 140 is ready to receivethe SU-MIMO transmission. For example, the control trailer of the CTSmay include the mode indication to indicate whether device 140 is to usethe SISO mode or the SU-MIMO mode to transmit the reverse directiontransmission to device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 totransmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140, for example, uponreceipt of the CTS from device 140 indicating that device 140 is readyto receive the SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the SU-MIMO transmission may includean EDMG SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 totransmit the SU-MIMO transmission over a frequency band above 45 GHz.

In other embodiments, the SU-MIMO transmission may include any otherSU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive the SU-MIMOtransmission from device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 146 to receivethe SU-MIMO transmission from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 146 to receivethe SU-MIMO transmission over the frequency band above 45 GHz.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may transmit to device 102an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission, for example, toacknowledge receipt of the SU-MIMO transmission from device 102, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission, for example,according to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission via theplurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of device 140, for example, when themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission as a SISOtransmission, for example, when the mode indication in the controltrailer of the CTS is to indicate the SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may receive theacknowledgment from device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivefrom device 140 the acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission, forexample, according to the mode indication in the control trailer of theCTS from device 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe acknowledgment from device 140 via a plurality of SU-MIMO Rx sectorsof device 102, for example, when the mode indication in the controltrailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe acknowledgment from device 140 as a SISO transmission, for example,when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates aSISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may transmit a reversedirection transmission to device 102, e.g., after receipt of the SU-MIMOtransmission from device 102, or after transmission of theacknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission from device 102, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit to device 102 a reverse direction transmission according to themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the reverse direction transmission to device 102 via theplurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of device 140, for example, when themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit the reverse direction transmission to device 102 as a SISOtransmission, for example, when the mode indication in the controltrailer of the CTS is to indicate the SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may receive the reversedirection transmission from device 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe reverse direction transmission from device 140, for example,according to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS fromdevice 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe reverse direction transmission from device 140 via a plurality ofSU-MIMO Rx sectors of device 102, for example, when the mode indicationin the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe reverse direction transmission from device 140 as a SISOtransmission, for example, when the mode indication in the controltrailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may be configured toindicate whether device 102 is able to receive the reverse directiontransmission from device 140 in SU-MIMO mode, e.g., as described below.

In one example, devices 102 and/or 140 may be configured to implementone or more rules, which may be configured, for example, to guaranteethat a TXOP owner, e.g., device 102, is ready for an SU-MIMO RX, forexample, when the TXOP responder, e.g., device 140, indicates in the CTSwith control trailer that a SU-MIMO mode is to be used for an uplink 9reverse direction) transmission from the TxOP responder, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement at least one of the options described below,and/or any other additional or alternative rule to guarantee that theTXOP owner is ready for SU-MIMO RX.

In some demonstrative embodiments, according to one option (“Option1”),for example, if the TXOP owner would like to transmit a SU-MIMO to theTXOP responder, the TXOP owner shall also be ready to receive a SU-MIMOfrom the TXOP responder. In this way, when the TXOP responder indicatesthe intention to perform SU-MIMO in uplink, the TXOP owner should alwaysbe ready for the SU-MIMO in the reverse direction.

In some demonstrative embodiments, according to another option(“Option2”), for example, the TXOP owner may not active all the DMGantennas for SU-MIMO reception with the TXOP responder, but may includeinformation of its activated DMG antennas in the control trailer of theRTS. For example, it may be the responsibility of the TXOP responder toidentify, for example, if the TXOP owner is available for SU-MIMOreception, e.g., if the TXOP owner has all the DMG antennas on in orderto receive SU-MIMO from TXOP responder. For example, if the TXOP owneris available, then the TXOP responder may indicate SU-MIMO for uplink inthe control trailer of DMG CTS. Otherwise, the TXOP responder mayindicate SISO for uplink in the control trailer of DMG CTS.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more operations according to the firstoption, e.g., as describe below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 to be ready to receive areverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from device 140, based onindicating the intent of device 102 to transmit the SU-MIMO transmissionto device 140, e.g., in the RTS frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured toallow device 140 and/or transmitter 148 to transmit a reverse directionSU-MIMO transmission to device 102, for example, when the RTS includesthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission todevice 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may beconfigured to implement one or more operations according to the secondoption, e.g., as describe below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 to include in the controltrailer of the RTS to device 140, an indication on whether device 102 isto be ready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission fromdevice 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may be configured totransmit the reverse direction transmission, for example, based on theindication from device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured toallow device 140 and/or transmitter 148 to transmit a reverse directionSU-MIMO transmission to device 102, for example, when the RTS fromdevice 102 includes the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to device 140, or when the control trailer of the RTS fromdevice 102 to device 140 includes an indication that device 102 is readyto receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and/or 140 may not beable to establish a TXOP to transmit the SU-MIMO from device 102 todevice 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may transmit to device 140the RTS to device 140 including the indication of the intent to transmitthe SU-MIMO transmission to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive the RTS andmay not be able to establish the TXOP with device 102, for example, forany reason.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit a DTS to device 102 to indicate failure of establishment of aTXOP for communicating the SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a control trailer of the DTS, e.g.,control trailer 219 (FIG. 2), may indicate a reason for the failure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may receive the DTS framefrom device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe DTS from device 140 indicating the failure of establishment of theTXOP, and including the control trailer to indicate the reason for thefailure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 totransmit to device 140 a Contention-Free End (CF-END) frame via theplurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the CF-END frame may be configured toindicate an end of the TxOP.

In one example, the CF-END frame may be transmitted to device 140 inresponse to the DTS from device 140, e.g., to indicate the end of theTxOP.

In another example, the CF-END frame may be transmitted to device 140 toindicate an end of a TxOP, e.g., an end initiated by device 102, and/ornot as a response to a DTS frame from device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive the CF-ENDframe from device 102, for example, to end the TXOP, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 146 to receivefrom device 102 the CF-END frame from device 102 indicating an end ofthe TXOP for communicating the SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and 140 may exchange agrant and a grant ACK frames, for example, prior to the exchange of theRTS and CTS, for example, to set a time for the TXOP, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or transmitter 118 totransmit a grant frame to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the grant frame may include anindication of a time for the TXOP, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a control trailer of the grant frame,e.g., control trailer 219 (FIG. 2), may include the indication of theintent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 140 may receive the grantframe from device 102, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or receiver 146 to receivefrom device 102 the grant frame including the indication of the time forthe TXOP and the control trailer including the indication of the intentto transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 154 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 and/or transmitter 148 totransmit a grant acknowledge (ACK) to device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the grant ACK may be configured toacknowledge reception of the grant frame from device 102, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a control trailer of the grant ACK,e.g., control trailer 219 (FIG. 2), may indicate whether device 140 isready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission from device 102.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the control trailer of the grant ACKmay include a mode indication to indicate whether device 140 is to use aSISO mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit a reverse direction transmissionto device 102, for example, similar to the control trailer of the CTSfrom device 140, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, device 102 may receive the grant ACKfrom device 140, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 124 may be configured tocontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 102 and/or receiver 116 to receivethe grant ACK from device 140 to acknowledge reception of the grantframe, a control trailer of the grant ACK to indicate whether device 140is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102 and 140 may exchange theRTS and CTS, e.g., after the exchange of the grant and grant ACK framesto indicate the time of the TXOP.

Reference is made to FIG. 3A, which schematically illustratescommunicating a SU MIMO transmission between a first STA, denoted STA1,and a second STA, denoted STA2, according to a first communication flow,and to FIG. 3B, which schematically illustrates communicating a SU MIMOtransmission between the first and second stations according to a secondcommunication flow, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

In one example, the STA1 be configured to operate as, perform a role of,and/or perform one or more functionalities of, a TxOP owner, and/ordevice the STA2 may be configured to operate as, perform a role of,and/or perform one or more functionalities of a TxOP responder.

In one example, device 102 may be configured to operate as, perform arole of, and/or perform one or more functionalities of, the STA1, and/ordevice 140 may be configured to operate as, perform a role of, and/orperform one or more functionalities of the STA2.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, thecommunication flow may include an optional exchange of a Grant frame 302and a Grant ACK frame 302.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, theGrant frame 302 and/or the Grant ACK frame 304, e.g., both the Grant andthe Grant ACK, may include a control trailer appended, e.g., controltrailer 219 (FIG. 2). For example, grant frame 302 may include a controltrailer 303, and/or grant Ack frame 304 may include a control trailer305.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the exchange of the Grant 302 andGrantACK 304 may be used, for example, at least to set up a time tostart a MIMO channel access attempt, indicate a SU-MIMO intention from aGrant initiator, e.g., STA1, to a Grant responder, e.g., STA2, and/or toindicate a SISO or SU-MIMO intention for reverse direction communicationfrom the Grant responder to the Grant initiator, e.g., as descriedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, when the STA1 may decideto transmit SU-MIMO data to STA2, the STA1 may send Grant frame 302 withcontrol trailer 303 to the STA2, e.g., using a SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the Grant frame302 with control trailer 303 may include, for example, informationincluding at least an indication of a target time when the STA1 willattempt to access a channel in order to obtain a TXOP to communicate toSTA2, and/or the Control trailer 303 of the Grant frame 302 may indicatethat the STA1 would like to transmit to STA2 using SU-MIMO.

In one example, there may be no confusion on what antenna configurationSTA1 and STA2 should use for the SU-MIMO transmission and/or reception,for example, since there may be only one set of SU-MIMO TX and/or RXbeams from STA1 to STA2 that are trained and/or maintained, e.g., basedon a previous beamforming procedure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the STA2 mayreceive the Grant frame 302 from STA1, and may reply with GrantACK frame304 with the control trailer 305, e.g., in a SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the GrantACK 304may include, for example, information including the acknowledgement ofthe reception of Grant frame 302 from STA1. For example, the controltrailer 305 may indicate whether or not the STA 2 may be able to supportthe SU MIMO transmission and/or whether or not the STA2 is to use aSU-MIMO mode for transmission to STA1.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the control trailer 305 of theGrantACK frame 304 may include one or more indications, e.g., asdescribed below.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 3A, control trailer 305 may indicatewhether SU-MIMO RX may be ready at the target time indicated in theGrant frame 302 from STA1.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 3A, control trailer 305 mayindicate whether MIMO of STA 2 is temporarily disabled, e.g., if deviceis running on battery or battery low, or for any other reason.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 3A, control trailer 305 mayindicate whether SISO mode or SU-MIMO mode will be used from STA2 toSTA1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the STA2 may initiate anotherexchange of Grant and GrantACK frames between STA2 and STA1, forexample, after STA1 completes the exchange of the Grant frame 302 andGrantACK frame 304 with STA2.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example,after the exchange of the Grant frame 302 and GrantACK frame 304, atsome point, e.g., at or after the target time if Grant is used, the STA1may start to perform a MIMO channel access, e.g., in order tocommunicate with the STA2 using SU-MIMO.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example,when the STA1 obtains a TXOP and has CCA for all the MIMO TX sectorsclear for PIFS, the STA1 may send to the STA2 a RTS 306 with a controltrailer 307, for example, using all the SU-MIMO TX sectors of STA 1,e.g., with a small delay introduced in between each sector to avoidunintentional beamforming.

In one example, in this way, the RTS 306 may be sent through all theSU-MIMO TX sectors of STA1, for example, to enable 3rd party STAs onthese directions, which may receive the RTS 306, to set their NAV.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the controltrailer 307 of the RTS 306 may include, for example, part or all of thefollowing information, and/or other additional or alternativeinformation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the controltrailer 307 may indicate that the STA1 would like to transmit to STA2using SU-MIMO. For example, there may be no confusion on what antennaconfiguration STA1 and STA2 should use for the SU-MIMO transmissionand/or reception, e.g., since there may be only one set of SU-MIMO TXand/or RX beams from STA1 to STA2 that may be trained and/or maintained.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, theSTA2 may receive the RTS 306 with the control trailer 307 from STA1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the STA2 mayreply with a DMG CTS 308 with a control trailer 309, e.g., to indicateif the STA2 is ready for SU-MIMO reception from the STA1, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the STA2 may optionally reply with aDMG DTS with a control trailer, for example, if the STA2 is not readyfor SU-MIMO reception from the STA1, e.g., as described below withreference to FIG. 3B.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, for example, ifthe STA2 is ready for SU-MIMO reception from the STA1, the STA2 may sendback DMG CTS 308 with control trailer 309, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, control trailer309 may include, for example, part or all of the following information,and/or other additional or alternative information

In one example, as shown in FIG. 3A, control trailer 309 may indicatewhether an uplink channel from STA2 to STA1 is available.

In another example, as shown in FIG. 3A, control trailer 309 mayindicate whether SU-MIMO RX of STA 2 is ready.

In another example, control trailer 309 may indicate whether SISO orSU-MIMO will be used for a reverse direction transmission from STA2 toSTA1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, if STA 2 is to use SISOfor uplink transmission, the DMG CTS 308 with the control trailer 309may be transmitted using the SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, for example, if STA 2 is to useSU-MIMO for uplink transmission, the DMG CTS 308 with the controltrailer 309 may be transmitted, for example, using all the MIMO TXsectors of STA 2, e.g., with delay introduced in between each sector toavoid unintentional beamforming.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the STAreceives the DMG CTS 308 from STA2, the STA1 may transmit a SU-MIMO datatransmission 310 to the STA2.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3A, the STA2 mayacknowledge receipt of data transmission 310 to the STA1, for example,by sending a ACK/BACK 312 with Reverse Direction (RD) data, e.g., if RDis granted, for example, in the SISO mode, e.g., if SISO is used foruplink; or in the SU-MIMO mode, e.g., if SU-MIMO is used for uplink.

In some demonstrative embodiments, STA 2 may not be ready for SU-MIMOreception from the STA1, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, ifthe STA2 is not ready for SU-MIMO reception from the STA1 afterreceiving an RTS 322 with a control trailer 323 from STA1, the STA2 mayoptionally send back a DMG DTS 314 with a control trailer 315, e.g.,using the SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the DMG DTS 315 with control trailer315 may include, for example, part or all of the following information,and/or other additional or alternative information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, DMG DTS 314 may indicate that TXOPestablishment is failed.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, control trailer315 may indicate a reason of the TXOP establishment failure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, possible reasonsfor the TXOP establishment failure may include, for example, but notlimited to an SU-MIMO reception of STA2 is not ready yet, MIMO of STA2is temporarily disabled, an Uplink channel from STA2 to STA 1 is busy,and/or any other reason.

In other embodiments, control trailer 315 may indicate any other reasonof a TXOP establishment failure.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, ifthe STA1 receives the DMG DTS 314 with control trailer 315, or if theSTA1 decides to truncate the TXOP, the STA1 may cancel the NAVs that areset on other STAs, for example, by sending a CF-END frame 316, e.g.,using the same mode the STA1 transmitted RTS 306 with control trailer307.

In one example, if the RTS 206 is sent using all the MIMO TX sectors ofSTA with delay introduced in between each sector to avoid unintentionalbeamforming, the CF-END 316 may also be transmitted using all the MIMOTX sectors of STA1 with delay introduced in between each sector to avoidunintentional beamforming.

In another example, if the RTS 206 is sent using the SISO mode, theCF-END 316 may be transmitted using the SISO mode.

In some demonstrative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3B, for example, theSTA1 may initiate another RTS 318 with control trailer 319 to the STA2,e.g., after a time period 317, for example, based on the reason given incontrol trailer 315 of DMG DTS 314.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, devices 102and/or 140 may be configured to operate as, perform a role of, and/orperform one or more functionalities of an EDMG STA, which may beconfigured to perform one or more operations to communicate a SU-MIMOtransmission according to one or more rules, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an EDMG STA shall transmit a Grantframe with a control trailer to a peer EDMG STA to indicate the intentto transmit a MIMO PPDU to the peer STA if the Grant Required fieldwithin the peer STA's EDMG Capabilities element is one. Otherwise if theGrant Required field within the peer STA's EDMG Capabilities is zero,the STA may transmit a Grant frame.

In some demonstrative embodiments, in the transmitted Grant frame, avalue of an Allocation Duration field plus a Duration field of the Grantframe indicates the time offset from the PHY-TXEND.indication primitiveof the Grant frame transmission when the EDMG STA intends to initiateaccess to the channel to transmit to the peer EDMG STA. For thetransmitted Grant frame, a TXVECTOR parameter CONTROL_TRAILER shall beset to Present and a parameter CT-TYPE shall be set to Grant. ASISO/MIMO field shall be set to 1 and an SU/MU MIMO field shall be setto 0 to indicate that the following transmission is performed inSU-MIMO. The control trailer also indicates the corresponding antennaconfiguration for the upcoming SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, if an EDMG STA that receives a Grantframe with a control trailer indicating a SU-MIMO transmission to itselfis able to perform the SU-MIMO receiving at the target time indicated bythe Grant frame, it shall configure its antennas according to thesettings included in the control trailer of the received Grant framewithin a time period of the Allocation Duration field plus the Durationfield of the received Grant frame after the PHY-TXEND.indicationprimitive of the Grant frame transmission. It shall also transmit aGrant Ack frame in response of the received Grant frame. For thistransmitted Grant Ack frame, the TXVECTOR parameter CONTROL_TRAILERshall be set to Present and the parameter CT-TYPE shall be set to Grant.If it uses SU-MIMO for the transmission of the reverse direction, theSISO/MIMO field shall be set to 1 and the SU/MU MIMO field shall be setto 0. The control trailer also indicates the corresponding antennaconfiguration for the upcoming SU-MIMO transmission in the reversedirection. If it uses SISO for the transmission of the reversedirection, the SISO/MIMO field shall be set to 0.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an EDMG STA shall transmit an RTSframe with a control trailer to a peer EDMG STA to access the channeland establish a SU-MIMO TXOP. This RTS frame should be transmitted usingall SU-MIMO sectors, with a small delay between each sector. For thetransmitted RTS frame, the TXVECTOR parameter CONTROL_TRAILER shall beset to Present and the parameter CT-TYPE shall be set to RTS. TheSISO/MIMO field shall be set to 1 and the SU/MU MIMO field shall be setto 0 to indicate that the following transmission is performed inSU-MIMO. The control trailer also indicates the corresponding antennaconfiguration for the upcoming SU-MIMO transmission.

In some demonstrative embodiments, if an EDMG STA that receives an RTSframe with a control trailer indicating a SU-MIMO transmission to itselfis able to perform the SU-MIMO receiving, it shall configure itsantennas according to the settings included in the control trailer ofthe received RTS frame. It shall also transmit a CTS frame with acontrol trailer in response of the received RTS frame. For thistransmitted CTS frame, the TXVECTOR parameter CONTROL_TRAILER shall beset to Present and the parameter CT-TYPE shall be set to CTS. If it usesSU-MIMO for the transmission of the reverse direction, the SISO/MIMOfield shall be set to 1 and the SU/MU MIMO field shall be set to 0. TheCTS frame should be transmitted using all SU-MIMO sectors, with a smalldelay between each sector. The control trailer also indicates thecorresponding antenna configuration for the upcoming SU-MIMOtransmission in the reverse direction. If it uses SISO for thetransmission of the reverse direction, the SISO/MIMO field shall be setto 0. The CTS frame should be sent using the SISO sector. Alternatively,if the EDMG STA is not able to perform the SU-MIMO transmission, it maytransmit a DTS frame with a control trailer to the TXOP initiator toprovide further information. The DTS frame should be sent using the SISOsector.

In some demonstrative embodiments, all the RTS/CTS procedures shallfollow MIMO channel access rules to establish a SU-MIMO TXOP.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the EDMG STA that initiates theSU-MIMO TXOP may send a CF-END to cancel the NAV on SU-MIMO channels andrelease unused TXOP. The CF-END should be sent using all SU-MIMOsectors, with a small delay between each sector.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of communicating SU MIMO transmissionbetween first and second stations, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, one or more of the communications of FIG. 4may be performed by a first EDMG STA, e.g., device 102 (FIG. 1), and asecond EDMG STA, e.g., device 140 (FIG. 1), for example, according toone or more of the rules described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates a method oftransmitting a SU-MIMO transmission, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, one or more of the operations ofthe method of FIG. 5 may be performed by one or more elements of asystem, e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1), for example, one or more wirelessdevices, e.g., device 102 (FIG. 1), and/or device 140 (FIG. 1); acontroller, e.g., controller 124 (FIG. 1), and/or controller 154 (FIG.1); a radio, e.g., radio 114 (FIG. 1), and/or radio 144 (FIG. 1); atransmitter, e.g., transmitter 118 (FIG. 1), and/or transmitter 148(FIG. 1); a receiver, e.g., receiver 116 (FIG. 1), and/or receiver 146(FIG. 1); and/or a message processor, e.g., message processor 128 (FIG.1), and/or message processor 158 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 502, the method may include transmitting an RTSfrom a first wireless communication station to a second wirelesscommunication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the RTS to establish a TXOP to transmitan SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, acontrol trailer of the RTS including an indication of an intent totransmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communicationstation. For example, controller 102 (FIG. 1) may control, cause, and/ortrigger device 102 (FIG. 1) to transmit the RTS to device 140 (FIG. 1)via the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of device 102, the RTS toestablish the TXOP to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140;and including a control trailer including the indication of the intentto transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140 (FIG. 1), e.g., asdescribed above.

As indicated at block 504, the method may include transmitting theSU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, forexample, upon receipt of a CTS from the second wireless communicationstation indicating that the second wireless communication station isready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission. For example, controller 124(FIG. 1) may control, cause, and/or trigger device 102 (FIG. 1) totransmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device 140 (FIG. 1), for example,upon receipt of the CTS from device 140 (FIG. 1) indicating that device140 (FIG. 1) is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission from device102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 6, which schematically illustrates a method ofreceiving a SU-MIMO transmission, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, one or more of the operations of the method ofFIG. 6 may be performed by one or more elements of a system, e.g.,system 100 (FIG. 1), for example, one or more wireless devices, e.g.,device 102 (FIG. 1), and/or device 140 (FIG. 1); a controller, e.g.,controller 124 (FIG. 1), and/or controller 154 (FIG. 1); a radio, e.g.,radio 114 (FIG. 1), and/or radio 144 (FIG. 1); a transmitter, e.g.,transmitter 118 (FIG. 1), and/or transmitter 148 (FIG. 1); a receiver,e.g., receiver 116 (FIG. 1), and/or receiver 146 (FIG. 1); and/or amessage processor, e.g., message processor 128 (FIG. 1), and/or messageprocessor 158 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 602, the method may include receiving at a firstwireless communication station an RTS from a second wirelesscommunication station, a control trailer of the RTS including anindication of an intent to transmit a SU-MIMO transmission to the firstwireless communication station. For example, controller 154 (FIG. 1) maycontrol, cause, and/or trigger device 140 (FIG. 1) to receive fromdevice 140 (FIG. 1) the RTS including the control trailer including theindication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to device140 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 604, the method may include transmitting a CTS tothe second wireless communication station, when the first wirelesscommunication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission. Forexample, controller 154 (FIG. 1) may control, cause and/or triggerdevice 140 (FIG. 1) to transmit to device 102 (FIG. 1) the CTS, forexample, when device 140 (FIG. 1) is ready to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission from device 102 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 606, the method may include receiving the SU-MIMOtransmission from the second wireless communication station. Forexample, controller 154 (FIG. 1) may control, cause and/or triggerdevice 140 (FIG. 1) to receive the SU-MIMO transmission from device 102(FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 700, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 700 may include one or more tangible computer-readablenon-transitory storage media 702, which may include computer-executableinstructions, e.g., implemented by logic 704, operable to, when executedby at least one processor, e.g., computer processor, enable the at leastone processor to implement one or more operations at device 102 (FIG.1), device 140 (FIG. 1), radio 114 (FIG. 1), radio 144 (FIG. 1),transmitter 118 (FIG. 1), transmitter 148 (FIG. 1), receiver 116 (FIG.1), receiver 146 (FIG. 1), controller 124 (FIG. 1), controller 154 (FIG.1), message processor 128 (FIG. 1), and/or message processor 158 (FIG.1), to cause device 102 (FIG. 1), device 140 (FIG. 1), radio 114 (FIG.1), radio 144 (FIG. 1), transmitter 118 (FIG. 1), transmitter 148 (FIG.1), receiver 116 (FIG. 1), 1), receiver 146 (FIG. 1), controller 124(FIG. 1), controller 154 (FIG. 1), message processor 128 (FIG. 1),and/or message processor 158 (FIG. 1) to perform one or more operations,and/or to perform, trigger and/or implement one or more operations,communications and/or functionalities described above with reference toFIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and/or 6, and/or one or more operations describedherein. The phrase “non-transitory machine-readable medium” is directedto include all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being atransitory propagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 700 and/or storage media 702may include one or more types of computer-readable storage media capableof storing data, including volatile memory, non-volatile memory,removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasable memory,writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. For example, storagemedia 702 may include, RAM, DRAM, Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM),SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasableprogrammable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM(EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R),Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory (e.g., NOR or NAND flashmemory), content addressable memory (CAM), polymer memory, phase-changememory, ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon(SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppy disk, a hard drive, an optical disk, amagnetic disk, a card, a magnetic card, an optical card, a tape, acassette, and the like. The computer-readable storage media may includeany suitable media involved with downloading or transferring a computerprogram from a remote computer to a requesting computer carried by datasignals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium through acommunication link, e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 704 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by a machine, may cause themachine to perform a method, process and/or operations as describedherein. The machine may include, for example, any suitable processingplatform, computing platform, computing device, processing device,computing system, processing system, computer, processor, or the like,and may be implemented using any suitable combination of hardware,software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 704 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Examples

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising logic and circuitryconfigured to cause a first wireless communication station to transmit aRequest to Send (RTS) to a second wireless communication station via aplurality of Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO)Transmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, theRTS to establish a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, a controltrailer of the RTS comprising an indication of an intent to transmit theSU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station; andtransmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communicationstation, upon receipt of a Clear to Send (CTS) from the second wirelesscommunication station indicating that the second wireless communicationstation is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 2, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive from the second wireless communicationstation an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission according to themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 3, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Receive (Rx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of Example 3 or 4, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station as a SISO transmission, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station receive a Denial to Send (DTS) from thesecond wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of the TXOP, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate areason for the failure.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-6, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a grant frame to the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for the TXOP, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive a grant acknowledge (ACK) from thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of Example 8, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the second wireless communication station is to usea Single Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-9, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to be ready to receive a reversedirection SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation, based on indicating the intent of the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-9, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to include in the control trailer of theRTS an indication on whether the first wireless communication station isto be ready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-11, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Contention-Free End(CF-END) frame via the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the CF-END frame to indicate an end ofthe TxOP.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-12, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission viathe plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-13, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-14, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-15, andoptionally, comprising a radio.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-16, andoptionally, comprising one or more antennas.

Example 18 includes a system of wireless communication comprising afirst wireless communication station, the first wireless communicationstation comprising one or more antennas; a radio; a memory; a processor;and a controller configured to cause the first wireless communicationstation to transmit a Request to Send (RTS) to a second wirelesscommunication station via a plurality of Single-User (SU)Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Transmit (Tx) sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the RTS to establish a TransmitOpportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station, a control trailer of the RTS comprisingan indication of an intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station; and transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, upon receiptof a Clear to Send (CTS) from the second wireless communication stationindicating that the second wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of Example 18, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of Example 19, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive from the second wireless communicationstation an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission according to themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Receive (Rx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 20 or 21, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive the acknowledgment from thesecond wireless communication station as a SISO transmission, when themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-22, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a Denial to Send (DTS) fromthe second wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of the TXOP, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate areason for the failure.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-23, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a grant frame to the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for the TXOP, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of Example 24, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive a grant acknowledge (ACK) from thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of Example 25, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the second wireless communication station is to usea Single Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-26, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to be ready to receive a reversedirection SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation, based on indicating the intent of the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-26, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to include in the control trailer of theRTS an indication on whether the first wireless communication station isto be ready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-28, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Contention-Free End(CF-END) frame via the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the CF-END frame to indicate an end ofthe TxOP.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-29, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission viathe plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-30, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 18-31, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 33 includes a method to be performed at a first wirelesscommunication station, the method comprising transmitting a Request toSend (RTS) to a second wireless communication station via a plurality ofSingle-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Transmit (Tx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, the RTS toestablish a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, a controltrailer of the RTS comprising an indication of an intent to transmit theSU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station; andtransmitting the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wirelesscommunication station, upon receipt of a Clear to Send (CTS) from thesecond wireless communication station indicating that the secondwireless communication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 33, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 34, and optionally,comprising receiving from the second wireless communication station anacknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission according to the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of Example 35, and optionally,comprising receiving the acknowledgment from the second wirelesscommunication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Receive (Rx) sectors ofthe first wireless communication station, when the mode indication inthe control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of Example 35 or 36, andoptionally, comprising receiving the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station as a SISO transmission, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-37, andoptionally, comprising receiving a Denial to Send (DTS) from the secondwireless communication station to indicate failure of establishment ofthe TXOP, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reason for thefailure.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-38, andoptionally, comprising transmitting a grant frame to the second wirelesscommunication station, the grant frame comprising an indication of atime for the TXOP, a control trailer of the grant frame comprising theindication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of Example 39, and optionally,comprising receiving a grant acknowledge (ACK) from the second wirelesscommunication station, the grant ACK to acknowledge reception of thegrant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK to indicate whether thesecond wireless communication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the second wireless communication station is to usea Single Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-41, andoptionally, comprising being ready to receive a reverse directionSU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communication station,based on indicating the intent of the first wireless communicationstation to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the second wirelesscommunication station.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-41, andoptionally, comprising including in the control trailer of the RTS anindication on whether the first wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-43, andoptionally, comprising transmitting a Contention-Free End (CF-END) framevia the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wirelesscommunication station, the CF-END frame to indicate an end of the TxOP.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-44, andoptionally, comprising transmitting the SU-MIMO transmission via theplurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-45, andoptionally, comprising transmitting the SU-MIMO transmission over afrequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 47 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 33-46, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 48 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone processor, enable the at least one processor to cause a firstwireless communication station to transmit a Request to Send (RTS) to asecond wireless communication station via a plurality of Single-User(SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Transmit (Tx) sectors of thefirst wireless communication station, the RTS to establish a TransmitOpportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station, a control trailer of the RTS comprisingan indication of an intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station; and transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, upon receiptof a Clear to Send (CTS) from the second wireless communication stationindicating that the second wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of Example 48, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of Example 49, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive from the second wireless communicationstation an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission according to themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of Example 50, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Receive (Rx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of Example 50 or 51, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to receive the acknowledgment from thesecond wireless communication station as a SISO transmission, when themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

Example 53 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-52, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a Denial to Send (DTS) fromthe second wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of the TXOP, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate areason for the failure.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-53, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a grant frame to the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for the TXOP, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of Example 54, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first wirelesscommunication station to receive a grant acknowledge (ACK) from thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of Example 55, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the second wireless communication station is to usea Single Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-56, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to be ready to receive a reversedirection SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation, based on indicating the intent of the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-56, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to include in the control trailer of theRTS an indication on whether the first wireless communication station isto be ready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-58, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Contention-Free End(CF-END) frame via the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the CF-END frame to indicate an end ofthe TxOP.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-59, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission viathe plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-60, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 48-61, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 63 includes an apparatus of wireless communication by a firstwireless communication station, the apparatus comprising means fortransmitting a Request to Send (RTS) to a second wireless communicationstation via a plurality of Single-User (SU)Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) Transmit (Tx) sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the RTS to establish a TransmitOpportunity (TXOP) to transmit an SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station, a control trailer of the RTS comprisingan indication of an intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thesecond wireless communication station; and means for transmitting theSU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, uponreceipt of a Clear to Send (CTS) from the second wireless communicationstation indicating that the second wireless communication station isready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 64 includes the subject matter of Example 63, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the second wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,comprising means for receiving from the second wireless communicationstation an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmission according to themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of Example 65, and optionally,comprising means for receiving the acknowledgment from the secondwireless communication station via a plurality of SU-MIMO Receive (Rx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SU-MIMO mode.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of Example 65 or 66, andoptionally, comprising means for receiving the acknowledgment from thesecond wireless communication station as a SISO transmission, when themode indication in the control trailer of the CTS indicates a SISO mode.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-67, andoptionally, comprising means for receiving a Denial to Send (DTS) fromthe second wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of the TXOP, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate areason for the failure.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-68, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting a grant frame to thesecond wireless communication station, the grant frame comprising anindication of a time for the TXOP, a control trailer of the grant framecomprising the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of Example 69, and optionally,comprising means for receiving a grant acknowledge (ACK) from the secondwireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledge receptionof the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK to indicatewhether the second wireless communication station is ready to receivethe SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of Example 70, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the second wireless communication station is to usea Single Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the first wireless communicationstation.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-71, andoptionally, comprising means for being ready to receive a reversedirection SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation, based on indicating the intent of the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to the secondwireless communication station.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-71, andoptionally, comprising means for including in the control trailer of theRTS an indication on whether the first wireless communication station isto be ready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from thesecond wireless communication station.

Example 74 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-73, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting a Contention-Free End(CF-END) frame via the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the firstwireless communication station, the CF-END frame to indicate an end ofthe TxOP.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-74, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting the SU-MIMO transmissionvia the plurality of SU-MIMO Tx sectors of the first wirelesscommunication station.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-75, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting the SU-MIMO transmissionover a frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 77 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 63-76, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 78 includes an apparatus comprising logic and circuitryconfigured to cause a first wireless communication station to receive aRequest to Send (RTS) from a second wireless communication station, acontrol trailer of the RTS comprising an indication of an intent totransmit a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO)transmission to the first wireless communication station; transmit aClear to Send (CTS) to the second wireless communication station, whenthe first wireless communication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission; and receive the SU-MIMO transmission from the secondwireless communication station.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of Example 78, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of Example 79, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMOTransmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, whenthe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of Example 79 or 80, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the CTS as a SISOtransmission, when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTSis to indicate the SISO mode.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 79-81, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmissionaccording to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 79-82, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station the reverse direction transmission according tothe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 84 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-83, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Denial to Send (DTS) to thesecond wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reasonfor the failure.

Example 85 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-84, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a Contention-Free End (CF-END)frame from the second wireless communication station, the CF-end frameto indicate an end of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicatingthe SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-85, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a grant frame from the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thefirst wireless communication station.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of Example 86, and optionally,wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit a grant acknowledge (ACK) to thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of Example 87, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 89 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-88, andoptionally, wherein the control trailer of the RTS comprises anindication on whether the second wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from the firstwireless communication station.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-88, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to allow the firstwireless communication station to transmit a reverse direction SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, when the RTScomprises the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-90, andoptionally, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 92 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-91, andoptionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit (DMG)RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 93 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-92, andoptionally, comprising a radio.

Example 94 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 78-93, andoptionally, comprising one or more antennas.

Example 95 includes a system of wireless communication comprising afirst wireless communication station, the first wireless communicationstation comprising one or more antennas; a radio; a memory; a processor;and a controller configured to cause the first wireless communicationstation to receive a Request to Send (RTS) from a second wirelesscommunication station, a control trailer of the RTS comprising anindication of an intent to transmit a Single-User (SU)Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission to the first wirelesscommunication station; transmit a Clear to Send (CTS) to the secondwireless communication station, when the first wireless communicationstation is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission; and receive theSU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communication station.

Example 96 includes the subject matter of Example 95, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 97 includes the subject matter of Example 96, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMOTransmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, whenthe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

Example 98 includes the subject matter of Example 96 or 97, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the CTS as a SISOtransmission, when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTSis to indicate the SISO mode.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-98, andoptionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmissionaccording to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 96-99,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station the reverse direction transmission according tothe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-100,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Denial to Send (DTS) to thesecond wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reasonfor the failure.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-101,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a Contention-Free End (CF-END)frame from the second wireless communication station, the CF-end frameto indicate an end of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicatingthe SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 103 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-102,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a grant frame from the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thefirst wireless communication station.

Example 104 includes the subject matter of Example 103, and optionally,wherein the controller is configured to cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit a grant acknowledge (ACK) to thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 105 includes the subject matter of Example 104, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 106 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-105,and optionally, wherein the control trailer of the RTS comprises anindication on whether the second wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from the firstwireless communication station.

Example 107 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-105,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to allow the firstwireless communication station to transmit a reverse direction SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, when the RTScomprises the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 108 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-107,and optionally, wherein the controller is configured to cause the firstwireless communication station to receive the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 109 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 95-108,and optionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit(DMG) RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 110 includes a method to be performed at a first wirelesscommunication station, the method comprising receiving a Request to Send(RTS) from a second wireless communication station, a control trailer ofthe RTS comprising an indication of an intent to transmit a Single-User(SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission to the firstwireless communication station; transmitting a Clear to Send (CTS) tothe second wireless communication station, when the first wirelesscommunication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission; andreceiving the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wirelesscommunication station.

Example 111 includes the subject matter of Example 110, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 112 includes the subject matter of Example 111, and optionally,comprising transmitting the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMO Transmit (Tx)sectors of the first wireless communication station, when the modeindication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate the SU-MIMOmode.

Example 113 includes the subject matter of Example 111 or 112, andoptionally, comprising transmitting the CTS as a SISO transmission, whenthe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSISO mode.

Example 114 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 111-113,and optionally, comprising transmitting to the second wirelesscommunication station an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmissionaccording to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 115 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 111-114,and optionally, comprising transmitting to the second wirelesscommunication station the reverse direction transmission according tothe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 116 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-115,and optionally, comprising transmitting a Denial to Send (DTS) to thesecond wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reasonfor the failure.

Example 117 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-116,and optionally, comprising receiving a Contention-Free End (CF-END)frame from the second wireless communication station, the CF-end frameto indicate an end of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicatingthe SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 118 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-117,and optionally, comprising receiving a grant frame from the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thefirst wireless communication station.

Example 119 includes the subject matter of Example 118, and optionally,comprising transmitting a grant acknowledge (ACK) to the second wirelesscommunication station, the grant ACK to acknowledge reception of thegrant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK to indicate whether thefirst wireless communication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission from the second wireless communication station.

Example 120 includes the subject matter of Example 119, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 121 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-120,and optionally, wherein the control trailer of the RTS comprises anindication on whether the second wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from the firstwireless communication station.

Example 122 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-120,and optionally, comprising transmitting a reverse direction SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, when the RTScomprises the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 123 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-122,and optionally, comprising receiving the SU-MIMO transmission over afrequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 124 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 110-123,and optionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit(DMG) RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 125 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor tocause a first wireless communication station to receive a Request toSend (RTS) from a second wireless communication station, a controltrailer of the RTS comprising an indication of an intent to transmit aSingle-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmission tothe first wireless communication station; transmit a Clear to Send (CTS)to the second wireless communication station, when the first wirelesscommunication station is ready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission; andreceive the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 126 includes the subject matter of Example 125, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 127 includes the subject matter of Example 126, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMOTransmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, whenthe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

Example 128 includes the subject matter of Example 126 or 127, andoptionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit the CTS as a SISOtransmission, when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTSis to indicate the SISO mode.

Example 129 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 126-128,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmissionaccording to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 130 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 126-129,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit to the second wirelesscommunication station the reverse direction transmission according tothe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 131 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-130,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to transmit a Denial to Send (DTS) to thesecond wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reasonfor the failure.

Example 132 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-131,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a Contention-Free End (CF-END)frame from the second wireless communication station, the CF-end frameto indicate an end of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicatingthe SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 133 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-132,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to receive a grant frame from the secondwireless communication station, the grant frame comprising an indicationof a time for a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the grant frame comprisingthe indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMO transmission to thefirst wireless communication station.

Example 134 includes the subject matter of Example 133, and optionally,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first wirelesscommunication station to transmit a grant acknowledge (ACK) to thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 135 includes the subject matter of Example 134, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 136 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-135,and optionally, wherein the control trailer of the RTS comprises anindication on whether the second wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from the firstwireless communication station.

Example 137 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-135,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, allow the firstwireless communication station to transmit a reverse direction SU-MIMOtransmission to the second wireless communication station, when the RTScomprises the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 138 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-137,and optionally, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the firstwireless communication station to receive the SU-MIMO transmission overa frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 139 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 125-138,and optionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit(DMG) RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 140 includes an apparatus of wireless communication by a firstwireless communication station, the apparatus comprising means forreceiving a Request to Send (RTS) from a second wireless communicationstation, a control trailer of the RTS comprising an indication of anintent to transmit a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output(MIMO) transmission to the first wireless communication station; meansfor transmitting a Clear to Send (CTS) to the second wirelesscommunication station, when the first wireless communication station isready to receive the SU-MIMO transmission; and means for receiving theSU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communication station.

Example 141 includes the subject matter of Example 140, and optionally,wherein a control trailer of the CTS comprises a mode indication toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 142 includes the subject matter of Example 141, and optionally,comprising means for transmitting the CTS via a plurality of SU-MIMOTransmit (Tx) sectors of the first wireless communication station, whenthe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS is to indicate theSU-MIMO mode.

Example 143 includes the subject matter of Example 141 or 142, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting the CTS as a SISOtransmission, when the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTSis to indicate the SISO mode.

Example 144 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 141-143,and optionally, comprising means for transmitting to the second wirelesscommunication station an acknowledgment of the SU-MIMO transmissionaccording to the mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 145 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 141-144,and optionally, comprising means for transmitting to the second wirelesscommunication station the reverse direction transmission according tothe mode indication in the control trailer of the CTS.

Example 146 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-145,and optionally, comprising means for transmitting a Denial to Send (DTS)to the second wireless communication station to indicate failure ofestablishment of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicating theSU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the DTS to indicate a reasonfor the failure.

Example 147 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-146,and optionally, comprising means for receiving a Contention-Free End(CF-END) frame from the second wireless communication station, theCF-end frame to indicate an end of a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) forcommunicating the SU-MIMO transmission.

Example 148 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-147,and optionally, comprising means for receiving a grant frame from thesecond wireless communication station, the grant frame comprising anindication of a time for a Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) for communicatingthe SU-MIMO transmission, a control trailer of the grant framecomprising the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 149 includes the subject matter of Example 148, and optionally,comprising means for transmitting a grant acknowledge (ACK) to thesecond wireless communication station, the grant ACK to acknowledgereception of the grant frame, a control trailer of the grant ACK toindicate whether the first wireless communication station is ready toreceive the SU-MIMO transmission from the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 150 includes the subject matter of Example 149, and optionally,wherein the control trailer of the grant ACK comprises a mode indicationto indicate whether the first wireless communication station is to use aSingle Input Single Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit areverse direction transmission to the second wireless communicationstation.

Example 151 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-150,and optionally, wherein the control trailer of the RTS comprises anindication on whether the second wireless communication station is to beready to receive a reverse direction SU-MIMO transmission from the firstwireless communication station.

Example 152 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-150,and optionally, comprising means for transmitting a reverse directionSU-MIMO transmission to the second wireless communication station, whenthe RTS comprises the indication of the intent to transmit the SU-MIMOtransmission to the first wireless communication station.

Example 153 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-152,and optionally, comprising means for receiving the SU-MIMO transmissionover a frequency band above 45 Gigahertz (GHz).

Example 154 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 140-153,and optionally, wherein the RTS comprises a Directional Multi-Gigabit(DMG) RTS frame, the CTS comprises a DMG CTS frame, and the SU-MIMOtransmission comprises an Enhanced DMG (EDMG) SU-MIMO transmission.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features have been illustrated and described herein, manymodifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents may occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: memory circuitry; and aprocessor comprising logic and circuitry configured to cause a firstEnhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication station(STA) to: process a Request to Send (RTS) from a second EDMG STA, theRTS to initiate channel access for a transmission from the second EDMGSTA to the first EDMG STA, a control trailer of the RTS comprising anindication that the transmission from the second EDMG STA to the firstEDMG STA is to be a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output(MIMO) transmission; and based on a determination that the first EDMGSTA is able to receive the SU-MIMO transmission, transmit a Clear toSend (CTS) to the second EDMG STA, a control trailer of the CTSconfigured to indicate whether the first EDMG STA is to use aSingle-Input-Single-Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit atransmission to the second EDMG STA.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1configured to cause the first EDMG STA to set a SISO/MIMO field and aSU/Multi-user (MU) MIMO field in the control trailer of the CTS toindicate whether the first EDMG STA is to use the SISO mode or theSU-MIMO mode for the transmission to the second EDMG STA.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1 configured to cause the first EDMG STA to set aSISO/MIMO field in the control trailer of the CTS to “1” and aSU/Multi-user (MU) MIMO field in the control trailer of the CTS to “0”,when the first EDMG STA is to use the SU-MIMO mode for the transmissionto the second EDMG STA.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to causethe first EDMG STA to set a SISO/MIMO field in the control trailer ofthe CTS to “0”, when the first EDMG STA is to use the SISO mode for thetransmission to the second EDMG STA.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1configured to cause the first EDMG STA to: set the control trailer ofthe CTS to indicate that the first EDMG STA is to use the SISO mode; andtransmit the CTS using the SISO mode.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1configured to cause the first EDMG STA to: set the control trailer ofthe CTS to indicate that the first EDMG STA is to use the SU-MIMO mode;and transmit the CTS using the SU-MIMO mode.
 7. The apparatus of claim6, wherein the control trailer of the CTS comprises an indication of anantenna configuration for the transmission to the second EDMG STA in theSU-MIMO mode.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control trailerof the RTS comprises a SISO/MIMO field set to “1”, and a SU/Multi-user(MU) MIMO field set to “0” to indicate that the transmission from thesecond EDMG STA to the first EDMG STA is to be the SU-MIMO transmission.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control trailer of the RTScomprises an indication of an antenna configuration for the SU-MIMOtransmission.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to cause the firstEDMG STA to transmit a Denial to Send (DTS) to the second EDMG STA,based on a determination that the first EDMG STA is not able to receivethe SU-MIMO transmission.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 configured tocause the first EDMG STA to process a grant frame from the second EDMGSTA, the grant frame comprising an indication of a time for the channelaccess, wherein a control trailer of the grant frame comprises anindication of the SU-MIMO transmission.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11configured to cause the first EDMG STA to transmit a grant acknowledge(ACK) to the second EDMG STA based on the determination that the firstEDMG STA is able to receive the SU-MIMO transmission.
 13. The apparatusof claim 12 configured to cause the first EDMG STA to configure acontrol trailer of the grant ACK to indicate whether the first EDMG STAis to use the SISO mode or the SU-MIMO mode to transmit to the secondEDMG STA.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 configured to cause the firstEDMG STA to process a Contention-Free End (CF-END) frame from the secondEDMG STA, the CF-END frame to release a Transmit Opportunity (TxOP) usedfor the SU-MIMO transmission.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising aradio, the processor configured to cause the radio to transmit the CTS.16. The apparatus of claim 15 comprising one or more antennas connectedto the radio, and another processor to execute instructions of anoperating system.
 17. A product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone processor, enable the at least one processor to cause a firstEnhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) wireless communication station(STA) to: process a Request to Send (RTS) from a second EDMG STA, theRTS to initiate channel access for a transmission from the second EDMGSTA to the first EDMG STA, a control trailer of the RTS comprising anindication that the transmission from the second EDMG STA to the firstEDMG STA is to be a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output(MIMO) transmission; and based on a determination that the first EDMGSTA is able to receive the SU-MIMO transmission, transmit a Clear toSend (CTS) to the second EDMG STA, a control trailer of the CTSconfigured to indicate whether the first EDMG STA is to use aSingle-Input-Single-Output (SISO) mode or a SU-MIMO mode to transmit atransmission to the second EDMG STA.
 18. The product of claim 17,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first EDMG STA to seta SISO/MIMO field and a SU/Multi-user (MU) MIMO field in the controltrailer of the CTS to indicate whether the first EDMG STA is to use theSISO mode or the SU-MIMO mode for the transmission to the second EDMGSTA.
 19. The product of claim 17, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the first EDMG STA to: set the control trailer of theCTS to indicate that the first EDMG STA is to use the SISO mode; andtransmit the CTS using the SISO mode.
 20. The product of claim 17,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first EDMG STA to:set the control trailer of the CTS to indicate that the first EDMG STAis to use the SU-MIMO mode; and transmit the CTS using the SU-MIMO mode.21. The product of claim 20, wherein the control trailer of the CTScomprises an indication of an antenna configuration for the transmissionto the second EDMG STA in the SU-MIMO mode.
 22. The product of claim 17,wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the first EDMG STA totransmit a Denial to Send (DTS) to the second EDMG STA, based on adetermination that the first EDMG STA is not able to receive the SU-MIMOtransmission.
 23. An apparatus comprising: means for processing at afirst Enhanced Directional Multi-Gigabit (EDMG) wireless communicationstation (STA) a Request to Send (RTS) from a second EDMG STA, the RTS toinitiate channel access for a transmission from the second EDMG STA tothe first EDMG STA, a control trailer of the RTS comprising anindication that the transmission from the second EDMG STA to the firstEDMG STA is to be a Single-User (SU) Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output(MIMO) transmission; and means for causing the first EDMG STA to, basedon a determination that the first EDMG STA is able to receive theSU-MIMO transmission, transmit a Clear to Send (CTS) to the second EDMGSTA, a control trailer of the CTS configured to indicate whether thefirst EDMG STA is to use a Single-Input-Single-Output (SISO) mode or aSU-MIMO mode to transmit a transmission to the second EDMG STA.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 23 comprising means for setting a SISO/MIMO field anda SU/Multi-user (MU) MIMO field in the control trailer of the CTS toindicate whether the first EDMG STA is to use the SISO mode or theSU-MIMO mode for the transmission to the second EDMG STA.